Preparation and properties of hybrid water-based suspension of Al2O3 nanoparticles and MEPCM particles as functional forced convection fluid

A hybrid water-based suspension of Al2O3 nanoparticles and microencapsulated phase change material (n-eicosane) particles (MEPCM) was prepared as a functional forced convection fluid and the thermal properties of the resulting ternary suspension including the density, specific heat, thermal conductivity, latent heat of fusion, and dynamic viscosity were investigated experimentally. It was found that the dispersion of increasing fraction of Al2O3 nanoparticles can effectively improve the intrinsic characteristics of low thermal conductivity of the pure PCM suspensions, resulting even in significantly enhanced thermal conductivity relative to the pure water.